Ben Carnevale

Ben Carnevale
Sport(s) College basketball
Biographical details
Born October 30, 1915
Died March 25, 2008 (aged 92)
Playing career
1933–1937 NYU
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1944–1946
1946–1966		 North Carolina
Navy
Accomplishments and honors

Championships

As a player:
1935 – National Championship Team
1938 – played in the first National Invitation Tournament
Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1970
College Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2006

Bernard Louis "Ben" Carnevale (October 30, 1915 – March 25, 2008)[1] was an American college men's basketball coach.

Early years

Born in Raritan, New Jersey, Carnevale was a graduate of Somerville High School in Somerville, New Jersey.[2] He graduated from New York University, where he was a member of the 1935 national championship team and played in the first National Invitation Tournament in 1938. While at NYU he was coached by the legendary Howard Cann. He served as a Navy officer during World War II, receiving the Purple Heart.

Career

Carnevale was the head basketball coach the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1944 to 1946 and the Navy between 1947 and 1967, compiling a 257-160 record despite the Naval Academy height restrictions, at that time 6'5" (1.96 m). Carnevale was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1970.[3]

While coaching at UNC, he led the team to their first appearance in the title game. The Tar Heels lost the game to Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State), who won their second national crown under legendary coach Henry Iba.

Personal life

At the time of his death, Carnevale was living in Williamsburg, Virginia.[1] His son, Mark, is a professional golfer, who has won on the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour.

Head coaching record

Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
North Carolina Tar Heels (Southern Conference) (1944–1946)
1944–45 North Carolina 22–6 11–3 4th
1945–46 North Carolina 30–5 13–1 T–1st NCAA Runners-up
North Carolina: 52–11 24–4
Navy Midshipmen (Independent) (1946–1966)
1946–47 Navy 16–3 NCAA Quarterfinals
1947–48 Navy 10–7
1948–49 Navy 11–10
1949–50 Navy 14–7
1950–51 Navy 16–6
1951–52 Navy 16–7
1952–53 Navy 16–5 NCAA First Round
1953–54 Navy 18–8 NCAA Elite Eight
1954–55 Navy 11–9
1955–56 Navy 10–9
1956–57 Navy 15–8
1957–58 Navy 10–10
1958–59 Navy 18–6 NCAA Sweet 16
1959–60 Navy 16–6 NCAA First Round
1960–61 Navy 10–9
1961–62 Navy 13–8 NIT First Round
1962–63 Navy 9–9
1963–64 Navy 10–12
1964–65 Navy 10–10
1965–66 Navy 7–12
Navy: 257–160
Total: 309–171

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Associated Press (2008-03-26). "Former Navy coach Ben Carnevale dies at age 92". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2008-03-27.
  2. ↑ Frezza Jr., Harry. "Raritan man attends Final Four for 57th time", Courier News, April 1, 2001. Accessed August 2, 2007. "Ben Carnevale, who turns 86 on October 30, has had the kind of life some people might call legendary. In fact, when you look at his life, which began in a house just off the last trolley stop on Gaston Avenue in Raritan Borough, you might agree. The 1934 Somerville High School graduate is a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He is also the winningest coach in United States Naval Academy history, a survivor of a ship that was torpedoed during World War II, and somebody who had a lot to do with building the NCAA basketball tournament."
  3. ↑ Bernard L. "Ben" Carnevale, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Accessed August 3, 2007.

External links